Transitioning to Open-Access
Education

SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

• According to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Education is a right
• However, barriers to education persist (monetary costs, personal resources such as time, geographic barriers, social issues outside of personal control, available non-user-friendly format of education materials)
• Given these potential issues and barriers, what can be done to achieve goal 4?

Open-access Educational Resources for All

Goals of Sustainably MAEDE solution:

• Provide free quality education to all

• Overcome barriers (location, time, language) to accessing educational resources (materials, lessons, curricula)

• Ensure fully inclusive educational environment (genderless, ageless)

• Support primary and secondary school completion

• Leverage innovative technologies to reach remote and vulnerable populations

What does our solution address?

• SDG 4.1 By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes

• SDG 4.1.2 Completion rate (primary education, lower secondary education, upper secondary education)

• SDG 4.5 By 2030, eliminate gender disparities in education and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for the vulnerable, including persons with disabilities, indigenous peoples and children in vulnerable situations

• SDG 4.6 By 2030, ensure that all youth and a substantial proportion of adults, both men and women, achieve literacy and numeracy

• SDG 4a Build and upgrade education facilities that are child, disability and gender sensitive and provide safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all

Methodology

• Understand links between Education and socio-economic outcomes
  • Comparative country-level analysis (UNESCO data)
• Localize SDG Education indicators utilizing geospatial data
  • Canada example (2021 Canadian Census; Statistics Canada)
• Provide innovative solution to address SDG objectives
  • Live mobile app prototype presentation

Data Sources and Variables

• We located social and economic demographic variables from the UNESCO Institute for Statistics. These variables include:
  • Completion rate, upper secondary education, both sexes (%)
  • Life expectancy at birth, total (years)
  • GDP per capita (current US$)
  • Poverty headcount ratio at $3.20 a day (PPP) (% of population)

Poverty Rate & Education (2020)

GDP Per Capita & Education (2020)

Life Expectancy & Education (2020)

Canadian Case Study